Do Not Go by Oral Tradition

Come, Kālāmas, do not go (only) by oral tradition, by lineage of teaching, by hearsay, by a collection of scriptures, by logical reasoning, by presumed reasoning, by reasoned deep thinking, by the acceptance of a view after pondering it, by the seeming competence (of a speaker), or because you think: This person is our Teacher.

But when, Kālāmas, you know for yourselves: These things are unwholesome; these things are blameworthy (responsible for wrongdoing); these things are denounced by the wise; these things, if accepted and undertaken, lead to harm and discontentedness, then you should abandon them.

(1) What do you think, Kālāmas? When craving/greed arises in a person, is it for his welfare or for his harm?

‘For his harm, Venerable Sir.’

Kālāmas, a craving/greedy person, overcome by craving/greed, with mind obsessed by it, destroys life, takes what is not given, transgresses with another’s wife, and speaks falsehood; and he encourages others to do likewise. Will that lead to his harm and discontentedness for a long time?

‘Yes, Venerable Sir.’

(2) What do you think, Kālāmas? When anger/hatred arises in a person, is it for his welfare or for his harm?

‘For his harm, Venerable Sir.’

Kālāmas, a person who is full of anger/hate, overcome by anger/hatred, with mind obsessed by it, destroys life, takes what is not given, transgresses with another’s wife, and speaks falsehood; and he encourages others to do likewise. Will that lead to his harm and discontentedness for a long time?

‘Yes, Venerable Sir.’

(3) What do you think, Kālāmas? When ignorance/delusion (unknowing of true reality) arises in a person, is it for his welfare or for his harm?

‘For his harm, Venerable Sir.’

Kālāmas, a person who is unwise/deluded, overcome by ignorance/delusion (unknowing of true reality), with mind obsessed by it, destroys life, takes what is not given, transgresses with another’s wife, and speaks falsehood; and he encourages others to do likewise. Will that lead to his harm and discontentedness for a long time?

‘Yes, Venerable Sir.’

Come, Kālāmas, do not go (only) by oral tradition, by lineage of teaching, by hearsay, by a collection of scriptures, by logical reasoning, by presumed reasoning, by reasoned deep thinking, by the acceptance of a view after pondering it, by the seeming competence (of a speaker), or because you think: This person is our Teacher.

But when you know for yourselves: These things are wholesome; these things are blameless (not responsible for wrongdoing); these things are praised by the wise; these things, if accepted and undertaken, lead to welfare and peacefulness; then you should live in accordance with them….

(Reference: AN 3.65)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares that a Practitioner should not go only “by oral tradition” or other aspects of merely learning The Teachings but instead, a Practitioner should observe for themselves through independent verification of The Teachings, what is wise and true “leading to welfare and peacefulness”.

If a Practitioner were to “only” listen to what people share in the oral tradition, this can be misleading.

If a Practitioner were to “only” follow and be respectful of a lineage of teaching, this can be misleading.

If a Practitioner were to “only” go by hearsay, this can be misleading.

If a Practitioner were to “only” go by a collection of scriptures in a written text, this can be misleading.

If a Practitioner were to “only” go by logical reasoning, this can be misleading.

If a Practitioner were to “only” go by presumed reasoning, this can be misleading.

If a Practitioner were to “only” go by reasoned deep thinking, this can be misleading.

If a Practitioner were to “only” go by the acceptance of a view after pondering it, this can be misleading.

If a Practitioner were to “only” go by the seeming competence of a speaker, this can be misleading.

If a Practitioner were to “only” follow a person because they think that “this person is our Teacher”, this can be misleading.

Instead, what Gotama Buddha is guiding Students to understand is that they must “know for themselves” through “direct experience” to acquire wisdom in what is unwholesome, blameworthy (responsible for wrongdoing), leading to harm and discontentedness. A Practitioner does not gain this wisdom through any of the potential ways of being misled but instead, they learn, reflect, and practice The Teachings with guidance from a Teacher to ensure they can discover the truth for themselves to acquire wisdom.

A Practitioner will need to examine and investigate The Teachings while seeking guidance from a Teacher but then, they will need to independently verify The Teachings through practice of The Teachings to determine the truth and observe these Teachings work to improve the condition of the mind. Then, one will acquire wisdom liberating the mind from ignorance (unknowing of true reality).

The Buddha speaks of The Three Poisons, The Three Unwholesome Roots, or The Three Fires of craving, anger, and ignorance (unknowing of true reality). These are also referred to as greed, hatred, and delusion.

Detailed explanation of The Three Poisons is available in this same book series found in Chapter 8 of the book “Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to Enlightenment” (Volume 1).

Gotama Buddha also references four (4) of The Five Precepts when he mentions “destroys life, takes what is not given, transgresses with another's wife, and speaks falsehood; and he encourages others to do likewise”.

Detailed explanation of The Five Precepts is available in this same book series found in Chapter 7 of the book “Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to Enlightenment” (Volume 1).

As a Practitioner discovers the truth for themselves through direct experience of independent verification of The Teachings within their own life practice, they will know what is wholesome and blameless (not responsible for wrongdoing). They will know for themselves the wholesome qualities of mind that are “praised by the wise” and if practiced will lead to your “welfare and peacefulness”. A Practitioner will make wise choices to live in accordance with the wisdom they have discovered in these Teachings being able to liberate the mind to attain Enlightenment.

But, if a Practitioner does not do this work to independently verify The Teachings and only goes by the potential ways of being misled, then they will be unable to discover the truth to acquire wisdom remaining in ignorance (unknowing of true reality). It is the responsibility of each individual Practitioner to seek guidance but to then independently verify The Teachings through practicing The Teachings. As they observe the condition of the mind gradually improving, they will know the truth through having seen it for themselves as the condition of the mind gradually improves.

In this way, a Practitioner acquires wisdom leading to the complete elimination of discontentedness rather than being misled.

Each Practitioner needs to do the work to learn, reflect, and practice The Teachings through a determined, dedicated, and diligent life practice. No one can give you Enlightenment but instead, you will need to earn it yourself with the guidance of Teachers which requires one to not be misled. Instead, verify The Teachings through your own life practice not based on belief or any of the potential ways of being misled as described by Gotama Buddha.